Standart caliber rifles
Austria
 Steyr SSG 69
 Steyr SSG 04
 Steyr SSG 08
 Steyr Scout Tactical
 Styria Arms CSR99
 Unique Alpine TPG-1
Belgium
 FN 30-11
 FN Police Rifle
 FN FNAR
Brazil
 IMBEL Fz.308
Canada
 Timberwolf C14
China (People Republic of)
 QBU-88
 JS 7.62
Czech Republic
 CZ 700
Finnland
 Saco TRG
France
 FR F2
 PGM Ultima Ratio
 PGM Mini-Hecate .338
Germany
 HK PSG-1
 HK MSG-90
 Walther WA2000
 Mauser SP66
 Mauser 86SR
 Mauser SR-93
 Blaser 93 Tactical
 DSR-1
 SSG-82
 Erma SR-100
 GOL-Sniper
 Keppeler KS-V new
Great Britain
 Enfield L42A1 & Enforcer
 Parker-Hale M82
 AI Arctic Warfare / L96
 AI AE
 RPA Rangemaster
Israel
 Galil sniper
 TEI M86-SR
Italy
 Beretta sniper
Poland
 "Alex" / "Bor"
Turkey
 MKEK JNG-90 "Bora"
USA
 Armalite AR10(t)
 Barret 98B
 CheyTac Intervention
 DT SRS new
 FN FNAR
 FN SPR
 Kel-tec RFB
 M21
 M24
 M40
 Mk.11 mod.0, M110, SR-25
 RAI / RAP model 300
 Remington 700
 Remington MSR new
 Savage 10FP & 110FP
 VR1 PSR
USSR / Russia
 Dragunov SVD
 SVU and SVU-A
 VSS
 SV-98
 SV-99
 VSK-94
 SVDK
 MTs-116M
 Lobaev SVL new
 OTs-48K new
Switzerland
 SIG SG550 Sniper
 Sig-Sauer SSG 2000
 Sig-Sauer SSG 3000
 SIG STR/SHR 970
 B+T APR 308
 B+T APR 338
Yugoslavia
 Zastava M76

all texts and some pictures
copyright © 1999-2010
by Max R. Popenker
and can not be used without author permission

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VSS 'Vintorez' silenced sniper rifle (USSR/Russia)

Caliber: 9x39mm SP-5 and SP-6 subsonic cartridges
Action: auto, selective fire, gas-operated, striker-fired.
Length: 894mm
Barrel length: 200 mm
Weight: empty: 2.6 kg, loaded w. scope PSO-1: 3.41 kg
Magazine: 10 or 20 rounds detachable box

VSS (Vinovka Snaiperskaja Spetsialnaya = Special Sniper Rifle) was designed for special operations. Designed at TSNIITochMash (Central Institute for Precision Machine Building) by team lead by Petr Serdjukov, the new rifle was intended to replace some AK-47/AKM rifles, fitted with silencers, in the hands of various Special Operations (SpetsNaz) troops of Soviet Army, KGB and MVD. To achieve desired lethality against targets, protected with body armor, TSNIITochMash had to develop a new subsonic cartridge, based on the 7.62x39 case, necked out for 9mm bullet. The bullets used in new cartridges are long and heavy (about 16 gram), and of ball (SP-5) and AP (SP-6) type. The latter bullet features a hardened steel penetrator as the core, and can defeat most military issue body armors at ranges up to 300-400 meters. VSS is in use since late 1980s, and is widely used in Chechnya against separatists. VSS is quite popular among its users for its stealthy capabilities and great lethality of heavy 9mm bullets. The effective range of VSS is limited to 300-400 meters.

The VSS is a gas operated, selective fire weapon. The long stroke gas piston is located above the barrel. The rotating bolt has 6 lugs and locks into the receiver, which is machined from solid steel for greater strength. The trigger unit differs significantly from AK-47 type firearms, being striker-fired. The safety switch and charging handle are AK-style, but the fire selector is a cross-bolt button, located inside the triggerguard, behind the trigger.

The barrel at the front has a set of tiny holes, drilled in the rifling grooves, which lead into the integral silencer. The silencer is the integral part of the weapon, and while it could be easily removed for storage or maintenance, the VSS should not be fired wit silencer removed.

Standard sighting equipment consists of side rail on the receiver, which usually accommodates the 4X PSO-1 scope, graduated for 9x39 ammo. Any other scope or night vision sight can be mounted on appropriate mount. backup iron sights consist of tangent rear and blade front. Rear sight is graduated up to 400 meters.

The wooden, skeletonized buttstock is fitted with rubber buttplate and can be removed for compact storage and transportation, the compact forend is made from polymer.

Feeding is achieved from 10 or 20 round box magazines, made from polymer.

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